Not Down The Drain: ECUA Offers Free Holiday Grease Pickup

December 22, 2010

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority is offering free holiday grease pickup.

As the winter temperatures drop, waste water from homes and other sources tends to flow more slowly in sewer lines. The primary reason is because the fats, oils, and grease which are discharged into the sewer system tend to harden and collect in the relatively cold sewer pipes. As these blockages build, sewer lines can become clogged and back up into homes and businesses, causing an unsightly and unsanitary situation.

ECUA residential customers are asked to take used cooking grease, place it in a can, let it cool, and then throw it away. The grease, according to ECUA, should not be dumped down the sink.

“As the winter temperatures get colder, grease entering into the sewer system congeals in the interior of the pipes, which causes clogs or chokes. The pipe wall becomes so cold it solidifies the grease particles, requiring removal of the blockage and even sections of pipe,” said Jim Roberts, spokesperson for ECUA. During the first 11 months of 2010, almost 100 “grease chokes” requiring costly repairs were reported in the ECUA system.

ECUA will pick up used holiday cooking grease from sanitation customers for free as part of their Household Hazardous Waste recycling service. The service also includes free pickup of items like pool and household chemicals, automotive fluids, pesticides, paint, fertilizers and cleaners.

Household Hazardous Waste is normally collected on the first Saturday of the month, but due to the New Year’s holiday, the next pickup will be January 8. To request a pickup, ECUA sanitation customers should call the ECUA Customer Service Line at (850) 476-0480.

For more information on the Household Hazardous Waste program, click here.

Comments

3 Responses to “Not Down The Drain: ECUA Offers Free Holiday Grease Pickup”

  1. just call me joe on December 23rd, 2010 10:13 am

    The goal is to keep the grease and other hazardous materials out of the groundwater. It should not be placed in the garbage cans for regular pickup.
    Also, hopefully people are using less “grease” to cook with these days and opting for healthier cooking alternatives.

  2. Just An Old Soldier on December 22nd, 2010 6:09 pm

    Let’s see – they cut pick ups from twice a week to once a week…

    THEN they raised rates…

    And now they “bless” us with a “free pick up” for grease…

    Because it would cost them money to fix a problem that they can’t just outright bill us for….

    Wow…

    I am so impressed with their Holiday Spirit…such a giving group of great people that only look out for their customers! And how many MILLIONS of DOLLARS are left in their coffers this year? 48?

    Sure hope they get a visit of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future…

    They deserve it.

    Vote the ECUA Board out – just a suggestion.

  3. Sandra on December 22nd, 2010 3:26 pm

    These stories always kill me. They’ve been picking my grease up “for free” all of my life. I mean, since when does the garbage man get out and inspect what he is about to dump into the back of his truck? I’ve been pouring my old grease into an empty grease container and throwing it in with the rest of my garbage for years, and guess what, they’ve been picking it up.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News